The 2024 Draft in Vegas is fast approaching, and the top 28 selections are determined. With that in mind, while I was preparing my fantasy rankings for the draft, I decided to throw together a fun little mock draft for your reading pleasure.
This is not my personal ranking, or a fantasy rankings. Our Fantasy ranking the NHL draft will be released following the NHL Draft.
- San Jose Sharks – Macklin Celebrini, C – Boston University (NCAA)
The slam dunk selection, no mystery or debate here. I think Celebrini is the runaway best player in the draft. He may return to the Terriers for his sophomore season even though he is NHL ready now. I do not think he is a generational player the likes of Connor McDavid or Conor Bedard, but there are strong Jonathan Toews upside and comparable.
- Chicago Blackhawks – Ivan Demidov, RW – SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)
The Hawks would be set with a dynamic duo of Bedard and Demidov giving them the next generation to succeed the Toews/Kane era. The dawn of a new dynasty.
- Anaheim Ducks – Artyom Levshunov, D – University of Michigan (NAA)
The Ducks already have a core of young forwards with Mason McTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson and Trevor Zegras and we all know how they love defense. The loss of Jamie Drysdale hurt but didn’t leave them empty handed with Pavel Mintyukov and Ollen Zellweger. Adding the best defenseman in a defense rich draft makes them fully loaded.
- Columbus Blue Jackets – Cayden Lidstrom, C – Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Another prospect rich franchise has the opportunity to flush out key positions in D and C. They already boast Adam Fantilli, David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk as blue-chip prospects and now pair a second potential franchise center to bolster the middle.
- Montreal Canadiens – Berkley Catton, C – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
The option to snag a franchise defenseman here is tempting, but the Habs are high on David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux and Arber Xhekaj. Catton is so dynamic offensively as a center you just can’t say no.
- Utah No Name – Anton Silayev, D – Torpedo (KHL)
Last year we learned the NHL team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes liked Russian player, and really big players. It just so happens that Silayev is a 6-7 Russian. A future blueline consisting of Dmitry Simashev, Maveric Lamoureux and Silayev are all 6-5 or bigger and mobile. I want to play goal for that team!
- Ottawa Senators – Zeev Buium, D – University of Denver (NCAA)
The Sens prospect pool is pretty shallow at all positions, so they look for the BPA and that is Buium. He had a terrific draft season, played a key role with Denver to win a NCAA championship as a freshman. When we look back on this draft class, Buium may be the best defenseman from 2024.
- Seattle Kraken – Sam Dickinson, D – London Knights (OHL)
Seattle has quickly amassed a respectable prospect pool (Ranked 13th in the Organizational Rankings) but it is rich with forwards and weak on defense headlined by Ryker Evans and Ty Nelson. Both are nice but not blue-chippers. Sam Dickinson fits like a glove and sorts them down to a more comfortable seeding on the depth chart.
- Calgary Flames – Tij Iginla, RW – Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
It would place a tremendous amount of pressure and expectation in Tij to be drafted by the Flames, but he has shown to thrive under pressure. It would not be a reach to select him at nine, it is more likely he is selected before the Flames get a shot at him.
- New Jersey Devils – Konsta Helenius, C – Jukurit (Liiga)T
The Devils are flush with defence so look to add a forward option. Helenius can play center or wing and with Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes down the middle, Helenius gives them excellent depth and strength up front.
- Buffalo Sabres – Zayne Parekh, D – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Buffalo already has perhaps the best one-two punch on defence with Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, both former first overall selections. But the offensive upside Parekh brings to the table is hard to ignore and could make the Sabres power play a force to be reckoned with.
- Philadelphia Flyers – Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, C – Mora (Allsvenksan)
With things looking like Michkov will arrive sooner than later, it may turn up the heat on the rebuild. It didn’t hurt that last year the Flyers were closer to a playoff spot than a lottery pick as many predicted this time last year. So, in MBN, the Flyers get a close to NHL ready player that should fit that timeline nicely.
- Minnesota Wild – Carter Yakemchuk, D – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Brock Faber being a Calder candidate gives the Wild an anchor on the back end, but outside of that their blueline is ageing and the prospect pool is underwhelming. Yakemchuk has all the tools to develop into a big, mean, mobile and offensive defenseman that could give the Wild a dynamic one-two punch on the back end.
- San Jose Sharks – Cole Eiserman, RW NTDP
Eiserman is the best shooter and goal scorer in the draft class. He may be a one-trick pony, but it’s a nifty trick! Celebrini and Eiserman were also teammates for two years going back to their days at Shattuck St. Mary’s and Eiserman is committed to Boston University.
- Detroit Red Wings – Beckett Sennecke, RW – Oshawa Generals (OHL)
While the scouting world was tuned into the U18 WJC they missed Sennecke having a monster playoff taking the Oshawa Generals to the OHL finals scoring 22 points in 16 playoff games. It’s hard to predict what Steve Yzerman will do at the draft going off the board with Moritz Seider and Nate Danielson recently, but it would be hard to pass on Sennecke here.
- Louis Blues – Liam Greentree, RW – Windsor Spitfire (OHL)
The Blues have a type that they like, big, mobile, two-way players. Greentree has size at 6-2 but may not be overly aggressive. Despite that he scored 36 goals and 90 points so he should fit in with players like Jake Neighbours and Zach Dean nicely.
- Washington Capitals – Adam Jiricek, D – HC Plzen (Czechia)
The Capitals prospect pool is slowly starting to be replenished and the biggest position of opportunity is on defense. Jiricek missed time to injury but has good size and mobility to develop into a number two pairing defender.
- Chicago Blackhawks – Cole Hutson, D – NTDP
Lane Hutson falling to the bottom of the second round is a mistake NHL teams will not duplicate. The Hawks go all offense with the Demidov pick at second overall and add another offensive weapon on the blueline in Hutson. The Hawks powerplay in three to four years could be lethal.
- Vegas Golden Knight – Trevor Connolly, LW – Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Vegas adds a top ten talent at pick 19 and hopes that the red flags concerning off ice behaviour are in his past and do not hinder his probability of playing in the NHL, or in Vegas’ case diminish his trade value.
- New York Islanders – Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
With arguably the worst prospect pool in the NHL the Islanders take a swing on a player that has a lot of potential and upside in Ritchie.
- Los Angeles Kings – Teddy Stiga, LW – NTDP
Stiga is not a consensus first round pick, but the Kings scouting staff like what they see in Stiga and that is a versatile, high floor NHL player.
- Nashville Predators – Igor Chernyshov, LW – Dynamo Moskva (KHL)
Low counting stats in the KHL are a result of low time on ice, but the Preds get a talented offensive winger with some size. The question is how long before he can make it to North America?
- Toronto Maple Leafs – EJ Emery, D – NTDP
A piece of the puzzle the Leafs sorely miss is a big, minute munching shut down defender. They tried to fill the void via trade, but the long-term solution is Emery.
- Colorado Avalanche – Andrew Basha, F – Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
The Avalanche are in a win now window and Basha was well over a point per game production with 85 points in 63 games and only has one more year of WHL availability. He could have a monster D+1 season and be in the AHL the following year.
- Ottawa Senators – Henry Mews, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
The Sens pick from their own back yard with a local boy in Mews. Mews had fallen in the draft rankings despite a 61-point season in 65 games and he was a point a game player for Canada at the U18.
- Montreal Canadiens – Sacha Boisvert, C – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
It is not very often the Habs pick a French-Canadian player in the first round, but the stars align this year to pick the 6-2 center from Trois-Rivieres who is a University of North Dakota commit.
- Carolina Hurricanes – Alfons Freij, D – Vaxjo Lakers (J-20)
The Canes have a tendency of selecting darlings from the online scouting community and Alfons Freij got plenty of love. Freij has the hockey sense and mobility the Canes covet.
- Calgary Flames – Michael Hage, C – Chicago Steel (USHL)
Hage had a strong second half and started trending up to finish the year with 75 points in 54 games. Heading to the University of Michigan he will be surrounded by better teammates and could turn out to be a steal.
- Dallas Stars – Jett Luchanko, C (OHL)
Dallas has had great success drafting from the OHL and return to that well again selecting the speedster Luchanko. His play at the U-18 with Canada showcased his improvement, and as one of the younger players in the draft class, there is plenty of development time ahead.
- New York Rangers – Nikita Artamonov, RW – Torpedo (KHL)
Perhaps a little gun shy after the whole Vitali Kravtsov experience, the Rangers like the upside of Artamonov enough to roll the dice in Vegas on the skilled Russian.
- Anaheim Ducks – Emil Hemming, RW – TPS (Liiga)
With the pick acquired from Edmonton in the Adam Henrique trade, the Ducks select one of the younger players in the draft, but who already has pro experience. He 6-2 winger has a great shot and a shot at top six upside.
- Philadelphia Flyers – Aaron Kiviharju, D – HIFK (Liiga)
The Flyers acquired the Panthers first round selection in the Owen Tippet trade and select Kiviharju who was a top ten ranked player prior to a season ending injury.